Iran warns against military intervention in Iraq

TEHERAN (AFP) - Iran warned on Sunday that "any foreign military intervention in Iraq" would only complicate the crisis, after the US said it was deploying a warship in the Gulf.

"Iraq has the capacity and necessary preparations for the fight against terrorism and extremism," foreign ministry spokesman Marzieh Afkham was Sunday quoted as saying by the ISNA news agency.

"Any action that complicates the situation in Iraq is not in the interests of the country nor of the region," Mr Afkham said, adding, "The people and government of Iraq will be able to neutralise this conspiracy."

Iraq is battling an offensive by Sunni militants who have advanced to within 80 kilometres of Baghdad's city limits after seizing a swathe of the country's north.